For Immediate Release 2 May, 2006
ExxonMobil And QuestAir Technologies Address Increased Hydrogen
Needs In The Refining Industry
FAIRFAX, Virginia and BURNABY, B.C. – ExxonMobil Research and Engineering
Company (“EMRE”) and QuestAir Technologies Inc. (AIM: QAR; TSX: QAR)
announced today that they have signed an agreement to jointly market a novel, large
capacity hydrogen purifier as a compact solution for hydrogen recovery in the oil refining
industry.
QuestAir has been working with EMRE since 2003 to develop this advanced, rapid cycle
pressure swing adsorption (“RCPSA”) system, marketed as the H-6200, for use in oil
refineries and petrochemical plants. A prototype plant test is planned at an ExxonMobil
refinery beginning the second half of 2006.
Jonathan Wilkinson, President and CEO of QuestAir said, “This marketing agreement is
a significant milestone in the commercialization of the advanced hydrogen purifier that
QuestAir is developing in collaboration with EMRE. We expect to begin jointly
marketing this product to refineries immediately.”
The multi-year agreement signed today covers the marketing of the H-6200 hydrogen
RCPSA to third party customers in the oil refining industry. Under the terms of the
agreement, EMRE will lead the marketing effort to refinery customers. QuestAir will
support EMRE’s marketing efforts, and will be the contracting party responsible for
manufacturing, supplying and commissioning of plants sold to refinery customers.
The commercial gain from the sale of the product will be shared between QuestAir and
EMRE based on the contributions made by each party towards the research, development
and commercialization of the product.
About the H-6200
The H-6200 hydrogen purifier incorporates QuestAir’s proprietary Rapid-Cycle Pressure
Swing Adsorption (“RCPSA”) technology, which operates at significantly higher cycle
speeds than conventional PSA systems. This results in a direct reduction in the size and
cost of the equipment required to purify a given volume of product gas. The H-6200 will
be marketed in the oil refining industry as a compact solution for hydrogen recovery,
helping refineries address the growing demand for hydrogen to process increased
supplies of heavy, sour crude oil.
About ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
EMRE is the downstream research and engineering arm of Exxon Mobil Corporation
(NYSE: XOM-News), a leading global oil, natural gas, and petrochemicals company
whose subsidiaries have operations in nearly 200 countries and territories. Additional
information regarding ExxonMobil and technologies it licenses can be found at http://www.exxonmobil.com/refiningtechnologies.
About QuestAir Technologies Inc.
QuestAir Technologies, Inc. is a developer and supplier of proprietary gas purification
systems for several large international markets, including existing markets such as oil
refining, biogas production and natural gas processing, and emerging markets such as
fuel cell power plants and fuel cell vehicle refuelling stations. The Company has joint
development agreements with ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company and
Shell Hydrogen, and a collaboration with FuelCell Energy. QuestAir is based in Burnaby,
British Columbia and its shares trade on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange
Plc. and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “QAR”.
Certain statements in this press release may constitute ‘‘forward-looking’’ statements
which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may
cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry
results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. When used in this press
release, such statements use such words as “anticipate”, “believe”, “plan”, “estimate”,
“expect”, “intend”, ‘‘may’’, ‘‘will’’ and other similar terminology. These statements
reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak
only as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements involve significant
risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results,
and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be
achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the
results discussed in the forward-looking statements.
For further information, please contact:
ExxonMobil News Media Desk
(703) 846-4467
QuestAir Technologies Inc.
Andrew Hall
Director, Corporate Development and External Communications
Phone: (001) 604-453-6967
Email: hall@questairinc.com
Web: www.questairinc.com
UK media contact:
Charles Ryland
Ben Willey
Eleanor Williamson
Buchanan Communications
Phone: 020 7466 5000
Canadian media contact:
Terry Foster
James Hoggan & Associates
Phone: (001) 604-739-7500 |
